MacDONALD: School bus driver deserved pat on back, not firing

BY THE TIME this column is published — I file seven days before publication — Eastern Shore school bus driver Heather Vidito might already be back at work.

Stock Transportation, on the other hand, may decide to ignore the massive public outcry of support for Vidito that has welled up since she was fired, and refuse to rehire her.

Of course, even if Stock Transportation gives way to public pressure and asks her to return, Vidito might decide never to return to the driver’s seat. After having her face, and the rather controversial methods she used to deal with a fight between two students on her bus, splashed all over the Internet and news (the incident could be viewed on the CBC and The Chronicle Herald websites as of last week), she might very well decide to seek out less stressful employment elsewhere.

I obviously have no clue what will happen.

Life is unpredictable and a lot can happen in a week.

Before I continue, I’m going to point out that I know nothing more about Heather Vidito than what can be seen in the few minutes of videotaped mayhem posted on YouTube when the incident in question occurred. I acknowledge there is a danger in only looking at one piece of what could very well be a complicated puzzle.

Having said that, however, I’ll now state that I don’t believe Vidito should have been fired for just what was seen in the now infamous cellphone video.

When I first viewed it, actually, I do believe I actually said “Good girl!” out loud.

From what I could see — all two minutes and 27 seconds of it — Vidito spoke the language of the brawlers involved and did exactly what she needed to do to deflate what was a potentially dangerous situation.

Do I believe that the folks at Stock Transportation might want to speak with Vidito about, even reprimand her for, the language she used that day?

Absolutely.

Do I believe that they should have fired her?

Absolutely not. But then, I may be a bit more lenient than some, given that (shh, it’s a secret) I’ve been known to curse myself.

I’m a rather quiet person, really. Generally and at most times civilized, I do my best to set a good conversational example for my children.

When an emergency hits, however, and/or someone threatens to harm what or who is mine, I can swear like a redneck bush woman.

I apologize when it happens, generally let everyone who might have heard me (and yes, sometimes my kids hear me) know that I am ashamed of myself, and always strive to never curse again (I always curse again).

I don’t mean to make excuses, and I’m certainly not saying that it will ever be acceptable for people to go about swearing freely and cursing willy-nilly.

What I am saying, however, is that I have reason to understand why so many people (visit the Give Heather Vidito her job back PETITION Facebook page) feel that it is not fair to judge Vidito, or fire her, without first considering her swearing blunder within the context of the wider situation that motivated it.

The circumstances were extreme and potentially dangerous.

And even if Vidito’s reaction and handling of the situation was also extreme, it worked. The situation was contained.

Rather than looking at the wee video of the incident that appeared online, maybe more people — those who fired and judged her particularly — should have taken the time to look more closely at the outcome.

After all, all of the students on Vidito’s bus arrived home safely that day.